Tumbling

by Caela Carter Narrated by Emily Eiden

Overview

For fans of Make It Or Break It, a novel about the road to Olympics for the world's most elite gymnasts.

Work harder than anyone.
Be the most talented.
Sacrifice everything.
And if you're lucky, maybe you will go to the Olympics.
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Grace lives and breathes gymnastics-but no matter how hard she pushes herself, she can never be perfect enough.
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Leigh, Grace's best friend, has it all: a gymnastics career, a normal high-school life... and a secret that could ruin everything.*
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Camille wants to please her mom, wants to please her boyfriend, and most of all, wants to walk away.
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Wilhelmina was denied her Olympic dream four years ago, and she won't let anything stop her again. No matter what.
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Monica is terrified. Nobody believes in her-and why should they?
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By the end of the two days of the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials, some of these girls will be stars. Some will be going home with nothing. And all will have their lives changed forever.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

03/21/2016
Carter (My Best Friend, Maybe) takes readers into the competitive heart of elite gymnastics as five athletes fight for a coveted spot on the U.S. Olympic team. Set over two days, the story follows the girls’ progress as they risk damaging their friendships, bodies, and reputations in order to be chosen. Third-person narration shifts attention among Grace, a half-Chinese world champ coached by her domineering father; tiny, “mousy” Monica, a long-shot struggling with self-confidence; Camille, the comeback kid who questions her commitment; African-American Wilhelmina, the veteran who wants a last chance at Olympic glory; and Leigh, who worries about the public finding out that she is gay. The girls have depth and heart, revealing insecurities and vulnerabilities, but also an unsurpassed determination to succeed. Through them, Carter skillfully showcases the extreme pressure gymnasts are under and the lengths they will go to win. Gymnastics-lovers of all ages will eagerly soak up this intimate look at the sport as these athletes attempt to stick their landings, gain favor with the intimidating judges, and dominate the leaderboard. Ages 12–up. Agent: Kate McKean, Howard Morhaim Literary Agency. (June)

From the Publisher

"Completely gripping. I felt like I had a front row seat to the Olympic Trials. All readers, especially fans of gymnastics, will love this book and wish it would not have to end."—Miranda Kenneally, author of Catching Jordan

"Gymnastics-lovers of all ages will eagerly soak up this intimate look at the sport."—Publishers Weekly

"Gymnastic books for teens are surprisingly few, and Carter has crafted an intense look into the pressures of this ambitious and all-consuming lifestyle."—Booklist

"Character development carries this story, making an engaging read even for those not interested in gymnastics."—VOYA

"Carter has created five memorable characters whose voices resonate long after the story ends."—School Library Journal
 
A Junior Library Guild Selection

School Library Journal

04/01/2016
Gr 6–10—Five gymnasts. Five Olympic dreams. Two days to make those dreams into reality. Grace is the coach's daughter and a perfectionist with no other choice but to be the best. With her mother out of the picture and her dad acting more like a coach than her father, she struggles to cope with the pressure and expectations that come along with being the best. Leigh is the powerhouse, Grace's best friend and biggest competition. Underneath her smile and easy laugh, she hides a huge secret. Wilhelmina is an "old-timer" at 20, out to prove that she is still among the elite after missing out on the Olympics four years ago. Camille is back for a second chance at the Olympics after her dream was cut short the first time. But are the Olympics really her dream, or are they her mother's? Monica usually blends into the background but finds herself thrust into the spotlight—and Grace's crosshairs—as she surges through the competition. Who will make it? Who will crack? Told in alternating voices, this work brings the cutthroat world of elite gymnastics to life. Rotations and breaks in competition mark the end of each chapter. A glossary at the end of the book explains frequently used technical gymnastics terms, making the jargon accessible to gymnastics novices. Carter has created five memorable characters whose voices resonate long after the story ends and whose lives outside of the gym (or lack thereof) make them relatable to readers. VERDICT Purchase for middle and high schools where realistic fiction is in demand.—Carli Worthman, Carmel Middle School, Carmel, IN

Kirkus Reviews

2016-03-30
Twelve girls. Two days. Only five winners.Every four years, a dozen of the United States' best female gymnasts head to the USA Gymnastics Women's Olympic Trials to compete for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. The novel's cast of hopefuls is made up of mostly white girls, with a couple of black girls, a Latina, and one girl who is half-Chinese. There's a closeted lesbian, and another is Jewish. There are mean girls and meek girls; backstabbers and best friends; veterans and "brand-new baby seniors." Some are event specialists, while others are all-arounders. The third-person narration alternates through the perspectives of five of the twelve girls, moving from girl to girl and back in labeled subsections within each chapter. Readers may have difficulty keeping characters straight; luckily there's a trials roster to keep things relatively clear. A glossary of terms is included for the uninitiated, but those heavily involved in the sport will truly understand and appreciate the nuances of scorekeeping, the politics of team assemblage, and the friends-rivals dynamics that keep life cartwheeling along behind the scenes.Faulty butt glue, waxing "down there," and dealing with a tyrannical team coordinator won't stop these girls from going for the gold. (Fiction. 12-15)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169266252
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	06/07/2016
Edition description:	Unabridged

Read an Excerpt

As usual, a torrent of crippling fears ran through Leigh’s bones like bolts of lightning as she watched the red flag, stone-faced, waiting for it to turn green.
(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "Tumbling"
by .
Copyright © 2016 Caela Carter.
Excerpted by permission of Penguin Young Readers Group.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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